HEMPSTEAD, New York * Hofstra University Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe today announced the signing of eight student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to begin playing for the Pride Lacrosse team starting in the 2005-06 school year.

The Hofstra Women's Lacrosse team finished last season with a record of 8-8 and was ranked #20 in the final Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) poll.

"We are very excited about this recruiting class. With Hofstra's rising academic standards, our staff was able to offer this group an excellent education at a top-notch institution and a great athletic experience playing in one of the top conferences in the nation," stated Klaes-Bawcombe. "These eight signees truly epitomize the term student-athlete. The versatile talent recruited in this class will be crucial in continuing our competitive tradition as we look to reload after graduating 10 seniors from this year's roster."

Catonsville, Marlyand native Jen Bach is a four-year letterwinner in both lacrosse and soccer at Catonsville High School. She is also a current and future teammate of fellow signee Sandra Wasserbach. An all-division pick at attack in 2004, Bach tallied 33 goals and 12 assists last season after notching 24 goals and 14 assists in 2003. Bach was also a 2004 US Lacrosse Women's Division High School Academic All-American.

Lauren Eberling, a native of Phoenix, Maryalnd, is currently a senior at Maryvale Preparatory School in Brooklandville, MD. A three-year member of the Lions women's lacrosse team at midfield, Eberling has also ran four years of indoor track and played three years of field hockey. She was named the Most Improved Player on the lacrosse team in her junior season.

Kendall Gray, from Lutherville, Maryland, attends Roland Park Country School in Baltimore, Maryland. She has played three years of lacrosse and four years of soccer, and last season she help guide her lacrosse team to the IAAM A Conference championship game. Last season she was named second team all-city and all-county by the Towson Times.

West Chester, Pennsylvania native Jacquelyn Hetzel will join the Pride after finishing her scholastic career at West Chester East High School. A three-year member of the Vikings lacrosse team, Hetzel has been a part of three Ches-Mont championship teams, while also earning first team All Ches-Mont and Daily Local News All-Area first team in 2004. Hetzel tallied 51 goals and 11 assists in 2004, while picking up 11 goals and four assists in 2003.

Alicia Recco, a native of Kings Park, New York, is a student at Kings Park High School. A four-year member of the Lady Kingsmen lacrosse team under coach Sally Ayres, Recco also played four years of soccer and ran two years of winter track at Kings Park. Recco has tallied 152 goals, 75 assists and 227 points thus far in her three-year scholastic career. In her junior season, she scored 63 goals and added 31 assists in leading her team to the Suffolk County Playoffs. Recco was her team's MVP during her junior season and has been named to the All-Suffolk County Team in each of the past two seasons.

Alysse Ruszkowski, from Syosset, New York, is a senior at Sachem High School in Farmingville, New York. Ruszkowski has played lacrosse all four years, while also playing soccer for three. She was named All-Suffolk County in 2004, and also earned the Most Improved Award and Unsung Hero Award in 2003.

Baltimore, Maryland native Sandra Wasserbach attends Catonsville High and is a current and future teammate of fellow signee Jen Bach. A three-year member of the Comets lacrosse team and also a four-year letterwinner in basketball, Wasserbach finished the 2004 season with 36 goals, 17 assists, 17 ground balls and 24 draw controls. She helped lead Catonsville, which finished with a record of 13-4, to the state finals, while winning the regional championship. For her efforts in 2004, Wasserbach earned all-division accolades.

Lauren Whitcomb, a native of Rochester, New York, is currently enrolled at East Rochester High School in East Rochester, New York. A six-year member of the Bombers lacrosse team, Whitcomb tallied 55 goals and 25 assists last season after notching 66 goals and 27 assists in 2003. A three-time all-county performer and two-time team MVP, Whitcomb led East Rochester to a state championship last season.

The Pride opens its season on Saturday, February 26 at Rutgers University. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.